With 100% English Ancestry, I thought it might be really difficult to trace my ancestors back in England from Canada. Only my mother, her father and his mother were born in Canada. This Blog will talk about researching my English ancestors from Canada but also the ancestors of our son in law whose families stretch back far into Colonial French Canada. My one name study of Blake and of Pincombe also dominate my blog these days.

Friday, October 11, 2013

Will of John Blake, Ironmonger of Langport Estover, Somerset - The National Archives PROB 11/354/149, probated 30 May 1677

The testator John Blake lived at Langport which is about 10 miles south east of Bridgwater so also in the same area as the collateral families of Admiral Robert Blake.

Edith, daughter of the testator, left her will in 1728 as Dame Edith Phelipps, widow of Montacute, Somerset. At some point I may purchase that one as it may show me how this John Blake is related to/or not to the Blake family at Ash Priors which is near to Bishops Lydeard, Halse, Aisholt where the Blake families collateral to Admiral Robert Blake lived.

Proved at London, 30th May, 1677, by Elizabeth Blake, relict and executrix, and on 16th October, 1699, administration de bonis non granted to Edith Phelipps, widow, daughter and only child of said John Blake.
[Edward Phelipps of Montacute in co. Somerset, Knight, this 22nd day of March, 1698.
I will that Mr. Robert Blake of Aishpriors, Mr. John Browne of Chilthorne Domer and
Mr. Thomas Smith of Ilminster, all in co. Somerset be my trustees, and I give to them £5 each.
Proved 25th Oct 1699.
Edith Blake became the second wife of Edward Phelipps of Montacute, Somerset.]

1 The Eight Day of February one Thousand Six hundred Seaventy and
2 six In the name of God Amen I John Blake of Langport Estover in the
3 county of Somersett Ironmonger though sick of body yet of perfect Mind
4 and memory Thanks be to Almighty God doe make my last Will and Testam[en]t
5 in manner and forme following viz[ a vi]t First I give and bequeath my Soule
6 to my maker in and through Christ my Saviour I trust in the Resurrection
7 at the last day I desire my Body to be buryed in the Churchyard of Langport
a Aforesaid Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Edith Blake Twenty
9 hundred Pounds To be paid or secured by my Executrix in Three moneths
10 after my decease And my Will is that if my daughter Edith doth not lyve until
11 she accomplish the age of Eighteene yeares or not married Then to remaine
12 to my Executrix during her natural life And after her death to be equally
13 divided between my brothers and sisters child or children that shall be
14 then lyving that or that part which shall be remaining Item I give unto my
15 servant Ann Blissett Fyve Pounds To be paid in Twelve Monethes after my decease
16 Item I give Twenty shillings to the use of the Church and Twenty shillings to the
17 use of the poore of Langport To be paid in Twelve Monethes after my decease My
18 will is that after all my debts and Legacies are paid and discharged I make my wife Elizabeth
19 Blake my whole and sole Executrix of all my Goods Chattells and Lands that I
20 have My Will is that after my wife Elizabeth Blake’s natural life that what
21 shee dyes possessed of may remaine to the use of my daughter Edith Blake or to
22 her child or children My Will is that Robert Blake of Ash Priers Gent
23 and William Ball of Langport yeoman and Ambrose Budd of Langport mercer
24 be Assistants to my Executrix for the use of her and my daughter In Witnes
25 whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and Seale the day and yeare abovesaid
26 Jo: Blake Sealed Signed in the presence of us Ambrose Budd The mark of
27 Barbar Crossman